Salim Malik axed from domestic cricket

Former Pakistani captain Salim Malik, banned last year from international cricket, was also effectively outsted from the domestic arena on Monday after being dropped from his employers' squad.

"We have not included his name in the squad of 25 for a premier first class event as per Pakistan Cricket Board's directive," Abdur Raquib, in charge of sport at Habib Bank, said.

Pakistan's premier tournament for private organisations starts from January 26.

Malik was banned for life in May last year after an inquiry conducted by Justice Malik Mohammad Qayyum found him guilty of match-fixing. He became the first former national cricket captain to suffer a life ban. A similar fate befell South Africa's Hansie Cronje and Indian Mohammad Azharuddin afterwards.

The Habib Bank team includes Akram Raza, who was fined in Qayyum's report.

But Raquib defended Raza's inclusion saying Raza was fined for not cooperating with the inquiry and "there is no ban imposed on him."

Meanwhile a Lahore court, which is hearing Malik's appeal against the life ban, adjourned the case until January 28.

"We are fighting against the life ban and are hopeful to win the appeal against the life ban," Malik's lawyer, Malik Shahid Hamid, said.

"My client is losing some precious cricket time," he said.

Mail Cricket Editor